Richfield police investigating school threat, classes canceled at high school out of caution

Officials with Richfield Public Schools say they have decided to cancel classes at Richfield High School Friday out of caution after they received a screenshot of a social media post that made a threat specific to the school.

Richfield police say they were contacted by the high school’s principal at around 6:30 a.m. regarding a picture showing a Richfield High School student wearing RHS clothes and holding a gun with the caption, “We’re on our way.”

This comes after a nationwide threat was made to schools named “RHS” Thursday.

Police said the student in the picture, a 17-year-old, voluntarily came to the department at around 8 a.m. with a parent and met with investigators. Police say the student and parent are fully cooperating.

Thus far, police say they’ve learned the picture was taken in March, the gun wasn’t real, and the pictured student wasn’t the person who wrote the caption and distributed it on social media. Officers did, however, take the replica firearm into their possession.

Additionally, in a letter to families, the district says it will be taking disciplinary and legal action against students or others involved with school threats.

No other details were available due to the active police investigation. However, police noted that there’s no believed risk to the community.

District officials added schools across the United States tend to see an increase in the number of threats received during the spring, with many students hoping schools will then suspend classes. However, the Richfield School District says they take all threats — even those which are a prank — seriously.

Also on Thursday, police in West St. Paul investigated a threat made by a student toward another student Wednesday night at Heritage E-STEM Middle School.

RELATED: Police: Student threat made at Heritage Middle School, no current safety concern

Due to the threat following the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school earlier this week, law enforcement will have an additional presence at all West St. Paul schools this week.